WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump took center stage Tuesday night in a primetime ABC interview, marking his return to the White House with a sweeping defense of his administration’s first 100 days. The president highlighted a series of accomplishments, from border security to economic measures, while delivering sharp criticism of the media and the previous administration.
“The border is the most significant because our country was really going bad … Now, it’s totally closed down,” Trump said, touting his administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. He emphasized that rapid enforcement actions had stemmed the tide of unlawful crossings, a signature issue of his presidency.
In one of the interview’s most direct moments, Trump attacked media outlets for allegedly ignoring President Biden’s physical and cognitive decline. “We had a President that couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs … You knew it, I knew it, and everybody knew it,” he said. Trump called ABC “one of the worst” news outlets and accused journalists of covering up Biden’s weaknesses.
On the economy, Trump claimed that inflation was easing under his leadership, attributing the progress to policy changes during his early weeks in office. “Grocery prices are coming down, the energy prices are coming down,” he said, offering a counterpoint to concerns about lingering economic instability.
He also referenced his handling of criminal deportations, using the example of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported MS-13 gang member, to underscore what he described as a renewed commitment to public safety and immigration enforcement. “He came into our country ILLEGALLY,” Trump said.
Trade, Ukraine, and domestic spending cuts take center stage
Trump touched on his trade policy, repeating claims that the U.S. had been exploited by foreign nations and reaffirming his intention to renegotiate international deals. “We have to fix it,” he said, warning of long-term consequences if changes were not made.
Addressing foreign affairs, the president recalled meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican. “Tremendous numbers of people are dying … and I feel very badly about it,” he said, asserting that the war in Ukraine would not have occurred under his leadership.
The president also defended his administration’s aggressive budget cuts, claiming to have saved $150 billion in his first 100 days. “We found tremendous waste, fraud, and abuse,” he said, hinting at possible future reversals on some reductions but emphasizing the overall savings.
On public health, Trump offered support for the measles vaccine, stating, “I recommend it,” while reiterating his position against federal mandates. The comment marked one of the few times the president addressed a domestic health issue in the interview.
In summary, Trump closed the interview with a return to his campaign message. “I’m doing one thing: I’m Making America Great Again,” he said. “Our country suffered greatly — and now, our country is coming back like nobody can believe.”
Trump declared his second term’s opening months as a reset for the nation, claiming victory over past policy failures and painting a picture of rapid national recovery.
